Ailment of flourishing poultry trade in Kashmir

Though the new breeds of poultry birds introduced by the state government have boosted the production of eggs and the number of broiler chicken in the state particularly Kashmir valley, the failures of the government in taking measures for checking diseases disturbing poultry production have very genuinely worried the poultry traders. It is fact that the business of poultry birds has witnessed tremendous progress over the last few years and the credit for the same goes to the poultry unit holders who have responded overwhelmingly to the government offers for introducing new breeds of layers and broilers across Kashmir. Alongside, the poultry farm owners are also trained in the latest techniques to manage birds. All these progressive steps have consequently helped fabulous increase in the production of eggs as well as broiler birds, but measures ought to be taken to check diseases troubling poultry birds have not been taken so for. Earlier, the poultry business was confronting several odds but this time the government has to check diseases only . It is encouraging that with the introduction of new breeds like One Raja, Japanese quails, turkey, and Kashmir commercial layer (KCL) birds, the production from poultry farms has multiplied many a times in recent years. For instance, Hariparbat Hatchery is one among the poultry farms, which boasts of breeding and dealing in different varieties of exotic breeds. Some ofpoultry unit holders say that poultry used to give very few eggs but they claim the credit for making the projects to increase their productivity. It is a fact that some poultry unit holders have brought in exotic breeds, which have given better eggs quantity and quality to the public. There are indications that such poultry unit holders have improved on the production in recent years. Technical officer Hariparbat hatchery claims to have given 1, 57,000 chicken to the public in which 57,000 were boiler chicks and 100,000 were egg laying ones and this in itself is an indication that the Hariparbat Hatchery has recorded ever increasing sales in recent yeas, evident being customers, the bulk buyers as well domestic consumers, converging here for quality poultry produce. Earlier, the Government did not give the poultry unit holders enough poultry products from the hatchery centres but now they are getting good products. It is estimated that poultry unit holders in Kashmir valley bought over a 100,000 of chicken last year and this year they have bought 22,000 chicken products, which include all varieties of it. Hariparbat Hatchery centre is giving good chicken products these days. A particular breed named Chabra has been found to be useful both as a broiler bird and a layer. To meet the needs of the end consumers, the Government has made elaborate arrangements for quick transport of poultry farm products in the Kashmir valley and also the Ladakh region. Reportedly, in the Kargil sector, the consumption of poultry farm produce is the highest. The Chabra breed is beneficial for Kargil. It is a breed, which serves dual purposes. This benefits the poor and rural people who can sell eggs as well as consume the meat from such breeds.The only discouraging tendency comes from the State Animal Husbandry Department which for unknown reasons is not keeping a strict vigil on the poultry and poultry products in the valley. The better it would have been if the State Animal Husabandary department wouldhave taken necessary measures for continuously collecting samples to check the disease. Thisin turn would have boosted the efforts of the poultry units holders for facilitating the speedy expansion of poultry business in Jammu and Kashmir state particularly Kashmir valley where people have evinced tremendous interest in the expansion of the poultry trade. Knowing that young entrepreneurs are evincing interest in investing in the flourishing poultry trade in the state particularly Kashmir valley the state animal husbandry department should have focused its attention on measures required to check the poultry diseases. The situation demands that the state animal husbandry department takes all measures to check the diseases of poultry birds to encourage the speedy growth of poultry trade for speedy expansion of employment generation in the poultry sector. The sooner the government does this the better it would for the speedy expansion of poultry trade in Jammu and Kashmir state particularly the Kashmir valley famous for huge consumption of poultry birds in the state particularly during summer months.